%0 Journal Article
%T Mechanical and Abrasive Wear Behavior of Metal Sulphide Lubricant Filled Epoxy Composites
%A M. Sudheer
%A N. Karthik Madhyastha
%A M. Kewin Amanna
%A B. Jonthan
%A K. Mayur Jayaprakash
%J ISRN Polymer Science
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/242450
%X The present work reveals the effect of the addition of commercial MoS2 (10£¿wt%) particles on mechanical and two-body abrasive wear behavior of epoxy with/without glass fiber mat reinforcement. The composites were fabricated using casting and simple hand lay-up techniques followed by compression molding. The mechanical properties such as density, hardness, tensile, and flexural properties were determined as per ASTM standards. The abrasive wear testing was carried out using pin-on-disc wear tester for different loads and abrading distances at constant speed of 1£¿m/s. A significant reduction in wear loss and specific wear rate was noticed after the incorporation of MoS2 filler allowing less wear of matrix during abrasion which in turn facilitated lower fiber damage. However the incorporation of MoS2 particles had a detrimental effect on most of the mechanical properties of the composites. The worn surface features were investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to investigate the wear mechanisms. 1. Introduction In recent times, there has been a remarkable growth in large-scale production of fiber and/or filler-reinforced polymer matrix composites for engineering applications [1]. Among various types of fiber reinforcements, namely, short, long (unidirectionally reinforced UD composites), fabric (bidirectionally reinforced BD composites), and the combinations of fabrics or long fibers in various directions (multidirectionally reinforced), BD reinforcement offers a unique solution to ever increasing demands on advanced materials in terms of better performance and ease in processing. Thermoset epoxy resins are extensively studied as a matrix material as they exhibits low shrinkage, higher mechanical properties, easy fabrication, excellent chemical and moisture resistance, good wettability, and good electrical characteristics [2]. One of the well-known reinforcement for polymers is glass fibers. Glass fibers have very high strength and high stiffness. It has been found that size and volume fraction of the fibers/fillers play an important role to improve the mechanical properties such as stiffness and strength. Polymer composites are extensively used in the tribosituations where resistance to abrasive wear is an extremely important criterion. Typical examples are chute liners, conveyor aids, vanes, gears, for pumps handling industrial fluids, sewage and abrasive contaminated water, and so forth. [3]. Polymers filled with solid lubricant (SL) have been extensively studied because of the increasing industrial and material applications.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.polymer.science/2013/242450/